Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-15
THE SOUTH SIDE.
PETERSBURG NEWSPAPER PRopRIE.
TORS sHNr ON FOR LIBEL.
The Alleged Libellous Publication About
Newspaper Critieism-fire in
Dinwiddie mill Burned.
Correspondents of tho Richmond Dlspa,ch.l

fCorrespondence Of tho Richmond Dispatch
PETERsBuRG, Va, Sept. Ia, 1887.
In the Mayors Court this morning
Justices Olivier and Turnbull presi-
ding-the warrants charging Mr.. Il. p.
Barham, editor and proprietor Of the
Indcr-Appcal, and w. w. Evans, pro-
prietor OF the Lancet, the organ of the
colored people here, with libellous pub
ilcations about Mayor T. J. Jarratt, were
called. Both defendants appeared to
answer.
The charge against Mr.. Barham was
that Of libel in permitting the publica-
ton IN his paper of preamble and
resolution said to have been adopted
by n meeting Of colored people and
signed by committee appointed at
said meeting, which were deemed 20
contain very serious and libellous re-
Elections upon the official conduct Of
the Mayor. The card was published as
an advertisement, and appeared during
the time OF the recent excitement in
this city. The three signers Of the
card in question were arrested upon
warrants sworn ont by the Mayor, aud,
as has heretofore been stated in this
correspondence, were sent on 10 the
grand jury 10 answer hecharge
The charge against W. W. Evans
(coloTed), Of the lancet, was that of
publishing in his paper, under the head
ing of samples Of Justice, certain
editorial paragraphs in reference to the
manner in which justice was admins
tered in the Mayors Court. which were
considered 10y the Mayor in the innuen-
does conveyed TO be maliciously libel
lOus.
Major Jarratt was placed upon the
stand as witness, and his testimony
was heard as to the published article,
which he said he deemed Hbellous.
Mr.. Il. i. Barham testified that for
several days before the publication Of
the communication in question he had
been sick. On the night on which the
article was brought TO the Office he had
retired early and had taken medicine
to enable him to rest. About midnight
he was awakened 10y boy from the
office with n message that he had
package from Mr.. Selke (the associate
editor which II was desired should be
examined before admitting its publica-
ton. / did not read the article care
fully and sent word to Mr., Selke that
If the article were signed by response
bic parties showing that it had been
adopted in pablo meeting, and paid
for rs an advertisement, to publish it.
Mr.. BaIham stated that his impression
from what he read of the communica-
tion was that It was simply condem-
nation OF the action Of public officer,
and that no thought Of malice or libel
entered ms mind.
Mr.. George =. Bernard, the attorney
for the Commonwealth, then opened
the case for the prosecution and read
from tie authorities showing what con
stitutes libel. In the course Of his ar
pumont he stated that whilst the papers
were very potent for good, they were
equally so for evil that whilst they
had the legal night and owed it as pub
JIG duty to criticize the acts Of public
officers. the law places limit upon tins
criticism and that If the justices should
now discharge Mr. Barham such action
would be tantamount 10 their deciding
that the publication in future of such
articles was not unlawful, and in effect,
would give the defendant the privilege
10 repeat what had been proven to
have been done in tins case. From his
knowledge. however, Of the cause Of the
IpdoJ-dpo0k, he could state that ne
believed that its proprietor WAS more
than ordinarily careful in what ne pub
lshed. Proceedings hike this, however,
were to remind the proprlctors OF
newspapers that more caution sh0uld
be exercised.
The Cont sent Mr.. Barham's case ON
for the action OF the grand jury, as it
did also the case of ". W. Evans. Both
deiendents were placed under nominal
bail.
FIRE ~ DISWIDDfE.
The fine steam grist- and wheat-nill,
belonging to Mr.. ". ID. Young, one
mile from Dinwiddic Courthouse, was
destroyed by fire about II o'clock yes
tcrdsV Tho mill had hppn in pDpratiDn